France plays Croatia in the first leg of the quarter-finals in the Nations League. At the Stadion Poljud in Split, coach Didier Deschamps is set to start all three "Italians" who are on yellow cards: Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani in attack, Lazio's Matteo Guendouzi in midfield, and Milan's Mike Maignan in goal. On the other hand, another Rossonero, Theo Hernandez, is not in optimal physical condition and is expected to sit on the bench alongside Inter's Benjamin Pavard and, among others, second-choice goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
The latter is being closely monitored in the market by Milan. The club has already reached a preliminary agreement to extend Maignan's contract from 2026 (the current expiration date) to June 2029, with a salary increase from 2.8 to 5 million euros net per year, plus bonuses. However, the signature has not yet come, as the parties prefer to take a break and reflect on the next steps.
In case of a non renewal, Milan would put Maignan on the market next summer to avoid the risk of losing him for free in a year, and as a result, would need to sign a new starting goalkeeper. This explains the interest in Lucas Chevalier. Born in 2001, he is six years younger than Maignan and is under contract until June 2027 with Lille, the same club from which the Rossoneri signed Maignan four years ago for 16.4 million euros. Maignan has made 151 appearances for Milan so far, winning a Serie A title in 2022 and an Italian Super Cup this year, always at the expense of Inter.
The Nerazzurri dream of bringing Italian Gigio Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain back to his home country, and he is reportedly also tracking Chevalier. The alternative route for Milan in the Italian market leads to Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi (born in 2000, formerly of Cremonese).
